Roxburgh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the Scottish burgh. For other places with the same name, see Roxburgh (disambiguation).

Roxburgh
Gaelic:	Rosbrog
Scots:	Roxburgh, Rosbroch
Location
OS grid reference:	NT700306
Statistics
Population:	70

Administration
Council area:	Scottish Borders
Constituent country:	Scotland
Sovereign state:	United Kingdom
Other
Police force:	Lothian and Borders Police
Lieutenancy area:	Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale
Former county:	Roxburghshire
Post office and telephone
Post town:	KELSO
Postal district:	TD5
Dialling code:	01573
Politics
Scottish Parliament:	Roxburgh & Berwickshire
UK Parliament:	Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk
European Parliament:	Scotland

Historically, the Royal Burgh of Roxburgh (Gaelic: Rosbrog), in the Scottish Borders, was an important trading burgh in the economy of Scotland. In the Middle Ages it had at least as much importance as Edinburgh, Stirling, or Berwick-upon-Tweed. Its significance lay in its position in the centre of lowland Scotland's most agriculturally fertile areas, and its position upon the River Tweed, which allowed river transport of goods via the main seaport of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Its position also acted as a barrier to English invasion.

The town stood on a defensible peninsula between the rivers Tweed and Teviot, with Roxburgh Castle guarding the narrow neck of the peninsula. Nothing remains of the town except some ruined segments of castle ramparts. Its site lies to the south of modern Kelso and Floors Castle, which lie on the other side of the Tweed. The Duke of Roxburghe owns the site.

English and Scots forces repeatedly captured and recaptured the town during the Scottish Wars of Independence. Its final recapture in 1460 saw the town and castle destroyed. After this time the town never regained its importance because the final English capture of Berwick-upon-Tweed in 1482 left Roxburgh with little reason to exist.

Roxburgh was the county town of the former county of Roxburghshire.

(See: http://www.channel4.com/history/timeteam/2004_rox_ancient.html )

[edit] Place-name meanings

Roxburgh perhaps comes from Old English hroc-burh 'black-coloured fort' or "Rox" referring to its geographical strength or "Rougesburgh" referring to its ancient inhabitants or even "Rokesburgh" being dedicated to St Rok in the Romish calendar.

[edit] Roxburgh District

Roxburgh District 1975–96

In more recent times (1975–1996), Roxburgh referred to a local government district in the Borders region of Scotland. Its borders broadly resembled those of the traditional county of Roxburghshire. In 1996 the district of Roxburgh became part of the Scottish Borders unitary area. (See also: Subdivisions of Scotland)